The Sawchuk isn’t just home to the reigning champs. The last five Atkinson Cup winners (Delta, San Jose and Adirondack times three) have all come from the conference. There’s more competitive teams than playoff spots. Can some of the teams on the bubble finally punch through?
Read part one here.
Adirondack Aces
Last year’s finish: 42-32-8 (eliminated in first round)
Draft picks: F Ilya Protas (14), F Emmitt Finnie (36), G Dylan Garand (58)
Key additions: F Emmitt Finnie
Key subtractions: F Marcus Johansson, G Arvid Soderblom
The Aces couldn’t quite recapture their Cup-winning magic, but in a season in which they had to deal with the loss of Johnny Gaudreau, that shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Having said that, the team has bona fide star power in Kirill Kaprizov and Zach Werenski, a deep forward corps of solid (if not spectacular) producers like Roope Hintz, Jake DeBrusk, Alex Tuch, et al., and even as Drew Doughty’s numbers begin to fade, the team has an excellent blueline going with Werenski, Noah Dobson, and Gustav Forsling. The big question is in goal. None of Cam Talbot, Daniil Tarasov or Casey DeSmith seem poised to be a workhorse starter. Does the offense have the juice to compensate?
Outlook: Playoff bound
Boston Banshees
Last year’s finish: 30-46-6 (missed playoffs)
Draft picks: F Porter Martone (4), F Igor Chernyshov (8), F Unger Sorum (50), F Reid Schaefer (51)
Key additions: F Elias Lindhbolm, F Patrick Kane, F Noah Cates, F Mason McTavish, F Alex Killorn, F Zach Bolduc, D Shea Theodore, D Shayne Gostisbehere, D Vladislav Gavrikov, D Nikita Zadorov, D Brett Pesce
Key subtractions: F Bobby McMann, F Samuel Honzek, F Nicolas Roy, F Andrei Kuzmenko, F Paul Cotter, D Denton Mateychuk, D Adam Pelech, D Albert Johansson, D Ryan Pulock, G Yaroslav Askarov, G Akira Schmid
In typical Boston fashion, the Banshees took a sledgehammer to their roster over the summer. Gone: Bobby McMann, Denton Mateychuk, Yaroslav Askarov, Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech and a host of others. In: forwards Elias Lindholm, Noah Cates, Mason McTavish and Patrick Kane, and some interesting upgrades on D in the form of Shea Theodore and Vladislav Gavrikov, who could very well step right in as the team’s top blueline pair, with Shayne Gostisbehere behind them. The Joel Hofer/Scott Wedgewood tandem is looking like a winner without Askarov’s more unpredictable element, and although Boston has way too much depth concentrated down the middle (Robert Thomas, Mika Zibanejad, Matty Beniers, Lindholm and Cates) and relatively little on the wing, where guys like Anthony Mantha and Yegor Chinakhov are going to be asked to do some heavy lifting, the addition of Patrick Kane helps a lot. This team seems destined to improve considerably over last season. And in 2027-28 when Porter Martone and Igor Chernyshov step in? Look out.
Outlook: Playoff bound
Clarington Coyotes
Last year’s finish: 32-38-12 (missed playoffs)
Draft picks: D Adam Engstrom (30), F Hunter Haight (73)
Key additions: none
Key subtractions: D David Savard
Like Great Lakes, Clarington made a big midseason acquisition (in this case, #1 defenseman Josh Morrissey) that seemed to signal that the Coyotes were ready to transition into a playoff team. Unfortunately, they faded down the stretch and that pick would end up being fourth overall, which Boston parlayed into Porter Martone. Nevertheless, Morrissey instantly solidified the Clarington blueline alongside Moritz Seider. Now the questions move elsewhere. Can Dustin Wolf keep up his play from last year? Is there enough depth surrounding Adam Fantilli, Seth Jarvis, Kirill Marchenko, and, as of this season, rookie Ivan Demidov? A glance at the depth chart should make Coyotes fans concerned about how strong the centres are after Fantilli. Are one of Ryan Poehling or Marco Kasper in a position to step into the top six? This team is likely looking at another year outside of the playoffs.
Outlook: The basement
Delta Sturgeon
Last year’s finish: 54-25-3 (won Atkinson Cup)
Draft picks: F Otto Stenberg (44), F Aleksanteri Kaskimaki (66), F William Stromgren (71), F Tristan Broz (72), F Filip Hallander (76), F Justin Robidas (78), F Ty Mueller (84), F Jacob Gaucher (87)
Key additions: none
Key subtractions: F Gage Goncalves, F Adam Klapka, F Brendan Gallagher
The defending champs would probably be a good team without Nathan Mackinnon and Nikita Kucherov, but add two of the top three forwards in the world? That’s a contender. The depth behind them is undeniably excellent, with a supporting cast that includes Aliaksei Protas, JJ Peterka, Zach Hyman and Tomas Hertl, with Josh Doan rising fast. The team’s D is well-balanced between two-way studs like Jake Sanderson and Roman Josi and defensive stalwarts Esa Lindell, Niko Mikkola and Colton Parayko. Where it gets interesting is in goal: Jake Oettinger can be a superstar or can put up fairly ordinary numbers. The Sturgeon will be able to outscore any issues there during the regular season; the question is, could they do it enough to go on another run? The roster is just about the same, so signs point to yes.
Outlook: True contender
Farmington Fighting Saints
Last year’s finish: 48-30-4 (lost in second round)
Draft picks: D Carter Yakemchuk (17), F Danila Yurov (39), F Josh Samanski (61), D Tyson Hinds (82)
Key additions: F Danila Yurov, F Cole Smith, D Declan Carlile
Key subtractions: F Alexey Toropchenko, D Dmitry Kulikov
The Fighting Saints are heading into the season with largely the same roster they used last year. After all, the team’s strengths haven’t changed much in recent years, namely solid goaltending and depth at all positions. But could some cracks be showing? JT Miller and Mikko Rantanen have been a powerful duo in recent years, but if their production drops off, it’s unclear if the Saints have enough firepower to step in. Drake Batherson is the closest thing to a sniper on the squad right now, and injuries to Josh Norris and Tyson Foerster aren’t going to help matters. Still, Logan Thompson is a strong starting netminder, John Carlson and Vince Dunn will put up plenty of points from the back end, and while the team might not be as scary these days and is a notch below contender status, it should still be near the top of the conference.
Outlook: Playoff bound
Hamilton Ti-Cats
Last year’s finish: 21-55-6 (missed playoffs)
Draft picks: D Matthew Schaefer (1), F Brayden Yager (25), D David Reinbacher (28), F Sacha Boisvert (47), F Avery Hayes (88)
Key additions: D Matthew Schaefer, G Carter Hart
Key subtractions: F Kevin Stenlund, D Adam Boqvist, D Trevor Van Riemsdyk, G Sam Montembeault
On paper, Hamilton’s poor showing last season was completely baffling. Here you have a rock-solid forward group led By Cole Caufield and Travis Konecny that’s so deep you’ll see strong contributors like Blake Coleman, Claude Giroux, and even Joel Eriksson Ek in the bottom six. You’ve also got a solid starter in Filip Gustavsson. Where things got iffy last season was on the blueline: the team never filled the void left by Roman Josi when they moved him a couple of years ago. Despite that, it seemed like more of a playoff bubble team than the squad that put up the third worst record in the entire league. At least that poor finish–and a draft lottery win–solved the team’s most pressing issue, as Matthew Schaefer will step in right away as the Ti-Cats’ top defenseman. Schaefer alone may be enough to drag the team out of the basement.
Outlook: Playoff bubble
Ice Harbor Storm
Last year’s finish: 49-28-5 (lost in second round)
Draft picks: D Sam Dickinson (18), F Denver Barkey (40), F Luca Pinelli (62), D William Villeneuve (83)
Key additions: D Sam Dickinson, F Denver Barkey
Key subtractions: F Bobby Brink, F Sam Carrick
The Storm will be without Aleksander Barkov for the year and Matthew Tkachuk for the majority of it, and there’s no doubt that drops the team a notch. The Storm should be able to weather (sorry) Tkachuk’s absence just fine, since they can still ice Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Guenther and Sam Reinhart, but asking Dylan Cozens or Christian Dvorak to step into Barkov’s skates would be silly. Having said that, the team has depth up front, a workmanlike defense corps (although as Kris Letang ages, it’s lost a dynamic element) and good-enough goaltending options in John Gibson and Spencer Knight (plus Linus Ullmark) that a playoff berth seems extremely likely.
Outlook: Playoff bound
Portland Winterhawks
Last year’s finish: 35-40-7 (missed playoffs)
Draft picks: F Anton Frondell (6), F Noah Laba (33), F Dominic James (55)
Key additions: F Connor Dewar, F Yakov Trenin, F Noah Laba, F Dominic James, G Akira Schmid
Key subtractions: F Sean Kuraly, F Joel Kiviranta, D Brett Pesce, D John Klingberg
The ‘Hawks boast a very strong, balanced group of forwards, including Nick Suzuki, Artemi Panarin, Andrei Svechnikov, Logan Cooley and Jesper Bratt, with freshly drafted Anton Frondell set to join next season. In that respect, they can go toe-to-toe with all but the very best teams in the league. Mackenzie Blackwood is also a capable starter, although he’ll be sharing the net with Akira Schmid and Adin Hill–both are less inspiring. The team’s long-standing weakness has been a lack of pop from the blueline. They’ve needed a dynamic offensive engine and PP quarterback for years and years, and Mario Ferraro wasn’t cutting it. If Darren Raddysh can emerge in that role, this team could improve in a hurry. There are a lot of good teams in the Sawchuk, though, so actually taking that next step is a tall order.
Outlook: Playoff bubble
San Jose Hosers
Last year’s finish: 44-32-6 (lost in first round)
Draft picks: F Konsta Helenius (15), F Isaac Howard (37), F Max Shabanov (59), D David Spacek (64), F Shane Lachance (79), D Mikulas Hovorka (85)
Key additions: F Max Shabanov, D Ryan Pulock
Key subtractions: F Reilly Smith, F Jeff Skinner, F Evgenii Dadonov, D Shayne Gostisbehere, D Ian Cole
When everyone’s healthy, the Hosers are a team with few glaring weaknesses. Depth up front? Especially if Mitch Marner plays left wing, you’ve got a wonderful top six that includes Jack Eichel, Mark Stone and Steven Stamkos. Depth on D? While it arguably lacks a superstar (with apologies to Charlie McAvoy and Mikhail Sergachev), it’s about as deep as any team in the league. Solid goaltending? Igor Shesterkin and Anton Forsberg form an excellent duo. It will be interesting to see what happens when ages catches up to Stone, Stamkos, Nazem Kadri, John Tavares and Mats Zuccarello: all currently productive players whose play is bound to decline in the seasons ahead. But Gabriel Landeskog is back after a long absence, so that won’t hurt. For 2026-27, those vets are still quite capable of driving this team into the playoffs and hopefully winning a round or two.
Outlook: Playoff bound
Vancouver Night Train
Last year’s finish: 19-56-7 (missed playoffs)
Draft picks: F Michael Misa (3), F Berkly Catton (20), F Matvei Gridin (22), F Victor Eklund (23), F Nick Lardis (27), F Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (32), F Alex Bump (35), D Theo Lindstein (42), G Carl Lindbom (45), D Elias Salomonsson (52), F Florian Xhekaj (77)
Key additions: F Michael Misa, F Berkly Catton, F Paul Cotter, F Adam Klapka, F Nick Lardis, D Charle-Edouard D’Astous
Key subtractions: F Martin Necas, F Elias Lindholm, F Zach Bolduc, F Anders Lee, F Alex Kerfoot, F Justin Brazeau, F Andrew Mangiapane, F Eric Robinson, D Shea Theodore
After dealing away Martin Necas, Elias Lindholm, Anders Lee and Shea Theodore, there isn’t much left of what was once a competitive roster outside of Mathew Barzal, Filip Hronek and Thomas Chabot. And even though the Night Train turned those vets into a draft haul (11 picks, including eight in the first two rounds), it doesn’t seem likely that any of their rookies will make much of an impact this coming season. Vancouver has the league’s youngest roster now, with an average age of 23. There are some glimmers of hope–namely the continued emergence of Philip Broberg and Brandt Clarke to form the nucleus of a solid blueline and the growth of Jesper Wallstedt, who will back up Yaroslav Askarov this year–but at the end of the day, this roster will have Drew O’Connor on the first line. If anything, they might be even worse than their sub-20-win ’25-’26 season.
Outlook: The basement
West Virginia River Rats
Last year’s finish: 53-22-7 (lost in third round)
Draft picks: none
Key additions: F Martin Necas, F Fabian Zetterlund, G Jake Allen
Key subtractions: F Sean Couturier, D Dmitry Orlov
Along with Delta, the River Rats are unquestionably one of the Sawchuk’s heavyweights. They took the Sturgeon to seven games in the conference final, then went out and addressed their biggest needs (at the expense of all their draft picks). Right wing was looking slightly sketchy with Kyle Palmieri expected to miss a lot of time, so the team acquired Martin Necas to ride shotgun with (one presumes) Leon Draisaitl and Jake Guentzel. Questions have begun to swirl around Juuse Saros’ consistency as a starter, so in comes Jake Allen, who will see plenty of games alongside Jakub Dobes. The team will miss Jaccob Slavin for half the season, and that will hurt, but Jakob Chychrun and Travis Sanheim should be fine, and at the end of the day this offense is more than capable of dominating the puck and steamrolling the opposition without Slavin’s defensive contributions.
Outlook: True contender
